NEWSREELS READY

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 May 1935, Page 13

NEWSREELS READY

WAR PREPARATIONS.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 30

■ Filmland’s vast newsreel networks are making preparations for war in Europe. A survey in Hollywood has disclosed that for six weeks, newsreels outfits, casting their lines of communication for coverage in the event of an outbreak, have been engaged in a quiet but highly competitive race to “spot” picture-taking equipment and personnel on the Continent. Equipment already has been shipped and additional men sent to a dozen smaller European nations, while coverage has been strengthened systema-

tically in major nations. A. K. Richard, editor of a major newsreel organisation and formerly a Federal film administrator during the World War, explained that in addition to camera forces from the United States, agreements have been established for picture-taking in nearly every important European capital. “In anticipation of hostilities,” he said,

“we have lined up native cameramen in Lithuania, Poland, Czecho-Slovakia, Greece, Turkey and Yugoslavia. It is felt these States would be among the

first to become involved.” Camera armies already are organised in France, Germany, Italy and Austria. Hundreds of cameras have been shipped within the last few weeks to strategic points. “To give you an idea of our preparations,” one newsreel chief said in Hollywood, “we have ‘spotted’ five men in France, who have been studying every phase of the problem —politically, economically and georgraphically. We would be able to rush into action on a few days’ notice. In addition, we have assembled library material c.n men, locations and buildings that might figure in the event ot war. This material has been flowing in from fourteen nations.” The problem of picture taking involves not only technical efficiency, but diplomatic finesse. “After we get the pictures,” it was explained, “we have to get them, out of the countries involved.” This has led to an elaborate scries of official "tie-ups” with Governments involved. Aeroplanes lune been purchased and will be ready at key points for quick departures. Plans for photographic coverage have already attained proportions, involving expenditure of many thousands oi dollars. , . The foregoing would tend to snow that someone is preparing for war. Will these elaborate plans gang agley.